Uninstalling League of Legends: A Comprehensive Guide for PC and Mac

League of Legends, the immensely popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Riot Games, has captivated millions worldwide. However, there might come a time when you decide to uninstall it, whether to free up storage space, take a break from the game, or switch to another platform. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough on how to completely uninstall League of Legends from your PC or Mac, ensuring that all game files and associated data are removed effectively.

Understanding the Uninstall Process

Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions, it’s essential to understand that uninstalling a game like League of Legends involves removing several components. These include:

• The Main Game Application: This includes the core game files necessary to run League of Legends.
• Riot Client: The platform from which you launch and manage all Riot Games, including League of Legends.
• User Data and Settings: Configurations, preferences, and local files related to your game account.
• Temporary Files: Caches, logs, and other temporary data created during gameplay.

A proper uninstall ensures that all these components are removed, preventing any remnants from cluttering your system. Failing to completely uninstall the game can sometimes lead to issues if you plan to reinstall it later.

Uninstalling League of Legends on Windows PC

Follow these steps to completely uninstall League of Legends from your Windows PC:

Step 1: Close League of Legends and the Riot Client

Before you start the uninstall process, make sure that both the League of Legends game client and the Riot Client are completely closed. If they are running, the uninstaller might not work correctly. To close them:

• Right-click on the League of Legends icon in your system tray (usually in the bottom-right corner of your screen).
• Select “Exit” or “Close.”
• Repeat the same steps for the Riot Client icon, if it’s visible in the system tray.

If you’re still unsure whether the processes are closed, you can use the Task Manager:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. In the “Processes” tab, look for any entries related to “League of Legends,” “Riot Client,” or “Riot Games.”
3. If you find any, select them and click “End Task.”

Step 2: Uninstall through Windows Settings (Recommended)

Windows provides an easy way to uninstall applications through its Settings menu:

1. Click on the Start button (Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen).
2. Click on the Settings gear icon.
3. In the Settings window, click on “Apps.”
4. Click on “Apps & features” on the left-hand sidebar.
5. Scroll through the list of installed applications or use the search bar to find “League of Legends”.
6. Select “League of Legends” from the list, and click on “Uninstall.”
7. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation. This will typically uninstall the main game files.
8. After uninstalling League of Legends repeat the process and find and uninstall “Riot Client”.
9. After uninstalling both “League of Legends” and “Riot Client”, you may be asked to restart the computer. Click ok or restart later.

Step 3: Remove Leftover Files (Optional but Recommended)

Sometimes, the uninstaller might leave behind some residual files. To ensure a clean uninstall, you can manually delete any remaining League of Legends folders:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the location where you originally installed League of Legends. The default location is typically C:\Riot Games\League of Legends.
3. If the League of Legends folder still exists, right-click on it and select “Delete.”
4. Navigate back to the C:\Riot Games folder.
5. If the Riot Client folder still exists, right-click on it and select “Delete.”
6. Open File Explorer.
7. In the address bar, enter %localappdata% and press Enter.
8. Look for a folder named “Riot Games”, if it exist, right-click on it and select “Delete.”
9. Also check for temporary files in the %temp% directory. In file explorer address bar, enter %temp% and press enter, look for any Riot related folders or files and delete them.
10. Empty the Recycle Bin to permanently remove the deleted files.

Step 4: Check the Registry (Advanced and Not Always Necessary)

For advanced users, you can also check the Windows Registry for any leftover keys related to League of Legends. However, be cautious when editing the registry, as incorrect changes can cause system issues. Only attempt this step if you are comfortable with editing the registry.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter.
3. Navigate to the following paths:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Riot Games
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Riot Games
4. If you find any folders or keys related to “League of Legends” or “Riot Games,” right-click on them and select “Delete.”
5. Close the Registry Editor.

Note: This step is often unnecessary, and most leftover files are cleaned up by the previous steps.

Uninstalling League of Legends on macOS

The uninstall process on macOS is similar to Windows, although the specific steps and folder structures are slightly different. Here’s how to uninstall League of Legends from your Mac:

Step 1: Close League of Legends and the Riot Client

Before uninstalling, ensure that the game client and the Riot Client are not running. You can do this by:

• Right-clicking on the League of Legends icon in your dock (if it’s there) and selecting “Quit.”
• Repeat the same step for the Riot Client icon in the dock (if visible).

You can also check Activity Monitor to ensure all related processes are closed.

• Press Command + Space Bar to open Spotlight search and type “Activity Monitor”.
• In the Activity Monitor application, search for “League of Legends”, “Riot Client” and any other related Riot process.
• Select them and click on “Quit Process”.

Step 2: Delete the League of Legends Application

The primary way to uninstall an application on macOS is to move it to the Trash:

1. Open Finder.
2. Click on “Applications” in the sidebar.
3. Locate “League of Legends” in the list of applications.
4. Drag the “League of Legends” icon to the Trash in the dock or right click and select “Move to Trash”.
5. Locate “Riot Client” in the list of applications and move it to the trash as well.

Step 3: Remove Leftover Files and Folders

After deleting the application, you may have some residual files. These should be removed for a clean uninstall:

1. Open Finder.
2. Click on the “Go” menu at the top of the screen.
3. Select “Go to Folder…”.
4. In the window that appears, enter ~/Library/Application Support and press Go.
5. Look for a folder named “Riot Games”. If you find it, move it to the Trash.
6. Select “Go to Folder…” from the “Go” menu again.
7. In the window that appears, enter ~/Library/Preferences and press Go.
8. Look for any files or folders starting with “com.riotgames” if you find any, move them to the Trash.
9. Select “Go to Folder…” from the “Go” menu again.
10. In the window that appears, enter ~/Library/Logs and press Go.
11. Look for any files or folders starting with “Riot” if you find any, move them to the Trash.
12. Select “Go to Folder…” from the “Go” menu again.
13. In the window that appears, enter ~/Library/Caches and press Go.
14. Look for any files or folders starting with “Riot” if you find any, move them to the Trash.
15. Empty the Trash to permanently remove the files.

Step 4: Verify Removal

After completing these steps, you can verify that League of Legends has been completely removed from your system. It is rare to have any other leftover files. If you still find any, repeat steps 2 and 3 again.

Troubleshooting Common Uninstall Issues

Sometimes, you might encounter issues during the uninstall process. Here are some common problems and potential solutions:

• Uninstaller Not Working: Ensure that both the game client and the Riot Client are completely closed. Try restarting your computer before attempting to uninstall again.
• Error Messages: Check for any specific error messages and try searching online for solutions related to those messages. Sometimes, corrupted files might be preventing the uninstall process.
• Files Still Present: Manually delete leftover files using the steps outlined above. If files refuse to delete, you may need to use a third-party file remover tool.
• Registry Issues (Windows): Only edit the registry as a last resort, and be very careful when doing so. Back up the registry before making changes if you’re unsure.
• Permissions Issues: If you encounter permission issues while trying to delete folders, you may need to take ownership of the folder, or run the operation as administrator.

Conclusion

Uninstalling League of Legends is a straightforward process when you follow the proper steps. Whether you’re on Windows or macOS, carefully going through each stage will ensure that you remove all associated files and folders. This will prevent potential issues if you decide to reinstall the game later, or if you are trying to free up disk space. If you encounter any issues, the troubleshooting tips provided should help you address common problems. Remember to always double-check that you’ve closed all associated applications before attempting to uninstall and to empty the recycle bin/trash after deleting files to ensure a full removal. By following this comprehensive guide, you can successfully uninstall League of Legends and keep your computer clean and organized.

If you are looking for more tech guides feel free to explore other blog posts on our site.